The greatest movies of the 21st century so far
Updates for 2026: Indisputably, the two most talked-about movies of 2025 were also among the best of the century. Ryan Cooglerâs gangster-vampire-blues-musical-period-piece Sinners proved that original stories can still draw huge audiences, while One Battle After Another confirmed Paul Thomas Anderson as the brightest filmmaking mind of his generation.
Movies were born in the 20th century, and the 21st century has nearly killed them. At least, thatâs the common narrative. And it hasnât seemed far from the truth: between internet piracy, the pandemic, the rise of television as the go-to storytelling medium, and ongoing corporate consolidation, the film industry has often felt imperilled throughout the first two decades of the new millennium.Â
But even among all the doom and gloom â or perhaps even because of it â film itself has continued to thrive. Genres have been mixed, matched and completely exploded. More diverse stories are being told than ever before. Blockbusters have reached unfathomable hugeness, while the smallest, strangest indies have won awards and reached vast audiences. If cinema in the 21st century has been defined by tumult, itâs also exemplified the ability of filmmakers to rise to the moment. These 100 movies represent the best of the last quarter-century so far.
Written by David Fear, Joshua Rothkopf, Keith Uhlich, Stephen Garrett, Andrew Grant, Aaron Hillis, Tom Huddleston, Alim Kheraj, Tomris Laffly, Kevin B. Lee, Karina Longworth, Maitland McDonagh, Tro